Owens' first book, Suburbia, published in 1973, was an instant success and later gained recognition as one the most influential photography books of the twentieth century. Over the course of a decade, Owens completed four photographic series capturing the multifaceted lives of the residents in the growing American suburbs. Also available in book form, the next two series focus on the different aspects of the suburban experience; social organizations (Our Kind of People, 1976), and the workplace (Working, 1978.) The final book in the series, Leisure, published most recently in 2004, captures the wide range of activities of suburbanites in their free time. Bill Owens jumped to fame as a photographer with the publication of his book Surburbia in 1972. Owens had taken up photography while working as a Peace Corps volunteer in Jamaica.

DNJ Gallery is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition featuring a selection of Bill Owens’ iconic photographs from his books, Suburbia and Leisure. Owens documents a wide variety of suburban life and leisure activities, and demonstrates his unique talent for creating revealing images that are not only direct and compassionate, but also humorous.

While working for an independent newspaper in the late sixties, Bill Owens began photographing his friends and neighbors in the towns surrounding suburban Livermore, California. Owens’ images reveal a sense of newly found freedom and wealth — new houses, green lawns, barbecues, and play spaces. As photographer Gregory Crewdson wrote about his work: “Owens is among the generation of photographers…who used the tradition of documentary photography to explore the complexities and contradictions of the American landscape. [Owens] used an objective style of photography in an effort to locate a perfect tension between banality and beauty, domesticity and nature, criticism and admiration.”

Today, Owens’ assessment of suburban life is even more relevant. Downtown areas are being revitalized; urban living has regained its attraction. The suburban ideal is overcome by increasing derision and Owens foresaw this in his groundbreaking work.

Owens' first book, Suburbia, published in 1973, was an instant success and later gained recognition as one the most influential photography books of the twentieth century. Over the course of a decade, Owens completed four photographic series capturing the multifaceted lives of the residents in the growing American suburbs. Also available in book form, the next two series focus on the different aspects of the suburban experience; social organizations (Our Kind of People, 1976), and the workplace (Working, 1978.) The final book in the series, Leisure, published most recently in 2004, captures the wide range of activities of suburbanites in their free time.

The influence of Owens' photography is evident in the work of writers and contemporary artists, as well as filmmakers such as Paul Thomas Anderson, Sofia Coppola and Wes Anderson. Owens has exhibited throughout the world, and his works are in the collections of MoMA, New York; Whitney Museum of American Art; The J.P. Getty Museum; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; The Center for Creative Photography; Smithsonian Museum of American Art; National Museum of American Art, Washington D.C.; Bibliotheque Nationale de Paris, and others.

Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance ActSenator Chris Dodd vowed to filibuster the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that helped this administration violate the civil liberties of Americans. "It is time to say: No more. No more trampling on our Constitution. No more excusing those who violate the rule of law. These are fundamental, basic, eternal principles. They have been around, some of them, for as long as the Magna Carta. They are enduring. What they are not is temporary. And what we do not do in a time where our country is at risk is abandon them."

What is the greatest threat facing us now? "People will say it's terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves. So what is the great threat we are facing? I would approach this differently, in almost Marshall-like terms. What are the great opportunities out there - ones that we can take advantage of?" Read more.

Paul Theroux: Peace Corps WriterPaul Theroux began by writing about the life he knew in Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer. His first first three novels are set in Africa and two of his later novels recast his Peace Corps tour as fiction. Read about how Theroux involved himself with rebel politicians, was expelled from Malawi, and how the Peace Corps tried to ruin him financially in John Coyne's analysis and appreciation of one of the greatest American writers of his generation (who also happens to be an RPCV).

Ambassador revokes clearance for PC DirectorA post made on PCOL from volunteers in Tanzania alleges that Ambassador Retzer has acted improperly in revoking the country clearance of Country Director Christine Djondo. A statement from Peace Corps' Press Office says that the Peace Corps strongly disagrees with the ambassador’s decision. On June 8 the White House announced that Retzer is being replaced as Ambassador. Latest: Senator Dodd has placed a hold on Mark Green's nomination to be Ambassador to Tanzania.

Suspect confesses in murder of PCVSearch parties in the Philippines discovered the body of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell near Barangay Batad, Banaue town on April 17. Director Tschetter expressed his sorrow at learning the news. “Julia was a proud member of the Peace Corps family, and she contributed greatly to the lives of Filipino citizens in Donsol, Sorsogon, where she served,” he said. Latest: Suspect Juan Duntugan admits to killing Campbell. Leave your thoughts and condolences .

He served with honorOne year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

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Story Source: PR Net

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Jamaica; Photography

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